Etiology of influenza viruses isolated in Russia from 1998 up to present time.

Influenza epidemic events in Russia from 1998 up to 2005 were associated with the circulation of influenza A (H3N2), A (H1N1) and B viruses. The antigenic analysis revealed that the evolution of A (H3N2) viruses proceeded as following: A/Sydney/05/97-->A/Panama/2007/99-->A/Fujian/411/02-->A/Wellington/01/04; A (H1N1) viruses: A/Bayern/07/95-->A/Bejing/262/95-->A/New Caledonia/20/99; B viruses evolved as two distinct lineages: Victoria- and Yamagata-like viruses. Our results have shown that the evolution in Russia coincided the World trends.